Rudolph ‘Rudy’ King - The Father of the Steelband in America by esteemed ethnomusicologist, journalist and educator Doris Green.

[Pan Times]

A member of his band died as they travel through America's segregated South when he was denied water for his medication. Check out this WST special by Doris Green

 

Global - Born in Trinidad, Rudy King is known as the first person to bring the steel pan to United States in 1949. He started his first band in Brooklyn the same year. Rudy moved to Harlem in 1950 on 112^th Street between St. Nicholas and Seventh Avenues and continued his band. He later moved to 123^rd Street and Morningside Avenue and then returned to Brooklyn. Rudy called his band Tropican. In appearances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in May 12, 1956, he was billed as the Trinidad Panamonic Steel Band and at other concert halls he was known as Rudolph King and his Trinidad Steel Band.
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